MUMBAI: Enraged by the television media's alleged negligence of serious issues in the North East region, cable TV operators in Assam have blacked out three national news channels Zee News, Aak Tak and Star News. The black out which began today morning at 6 am will go on till 6 am on Sunday.

Assam Cable TV Operators' Confederation (ACTOC) and the Greater Guwahati Cable TV Operators Association (GGCTOA) allege that important happenings and crucial issues of the region were rarely highlighted by the channels, while minor matters in other states were repeatedly telecast.

PTI reports that, the operators have also threatened to close down the so-called national channels if they don't see the seriousness of the situation. The cable operators were agitated that the national channels, "despite running in the region for a long time and earning revenue through advertisements failed to project the Kakopathar firing incident nationally".

At least nine persons were killed in police firing on 10 February at Kakopathar in Tinsukia district on a mob protesting against the death of a villager, Ajit Mahanta, in army custody.